VI. OTHER LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS A. Measures Reported But Not Receiving Final Action 1. Authorizing a Statue or Bust of George C. Marshall-H.R. 9165 (by Mr. Fascell, for himself and Representatives Charles Wilson of Texas, Diggs, Buchanan, Wolff, Meyner, and Burke of Florida) On September 13, 1977, the Subcommittee on International Operations held a hearing on three identical bills, H.R. 7619, H.R. 7620, and H.R. 8620, which authorized the Secretary of State to accept a statue or bust of George C. Marshall. On the same day, the subcommittee held an open markup session on H.R. 7619; agreed to a series of essentially technical amendments; and ordered a clean bill introduced. On September 16, the clean bill was introduced as H.R. 9165 by Hon. Dante B. Fascell, chairman of the subcommittee. The full committee held an open markup session on September 27, and by voice vote, ordered the bill favorably reported without amendment. The purpose of H.R. 9165 was to provide for the procurement of a statue or bust of George C. Marshall to be placed in an appropriate location in the Department of State. The bill authorized an appropriation of $10,000 to be effective in fiscal year 1979 to assist in carrying out the purposes of the legislation. This appropriation would be the only Government contribution, as further costs would be paid from private contributions. The bill was reported by the Committee on International Relations to the House floor on October 3, 1977. H.R. 9165 was passed by the House by a vote of 351 yeas to 22 nays under suspension of the rules on January 23, 1978. On January 24, 1978, the measure was referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee where it did not receive any further action during the 95th Congress. However, the provisions in H.R. 9165 were enacted as part of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for fiscal year 1979, Public Law 95-426. Legislative history June 6, 1977—H.R. 7619 jointly referred to Committees on International June 9, 1977-H.R. 7619 referred to Subcommittee on International Sept. 7, 1977-H.R. 7619: Report requested from Department of State. Sept. 27, 1977-H.R. 9165 considered in open markup session by full committee and ordered favorably reported by unanimous voice vote. Sept. 30, 1977-Report received. Oct. 3, 1977-Reported. House Report 95-653. Jan. 23, 1978-Passed House by a vote of 351 yeas to 22 nays under Jan. 24, 1978-Referred to Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. 2. Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act-H.R. 3350 (by Mr. Murphy of New York, for himself, and Representative Breaux) H.R. 3350 was introduced on February 9, 1977 and was jointly referred to the Committees on Merchant Marine and Fisheries and on Interior and Insular Affairs. On August 9, 1977, the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries reported the bill with amendments. On November 7, 1977, the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs reported the bill with amendments. On the same day, H.R. 3350 was referred to the Committee on International Relations for a period ending not later than February 10, 1978, for consideration of such provisions of the bill and amendments as fall within the committee's jurisdiction under clause 1(k), rule X of the Rules of the House. (On January 31, 1978, that period was extended to February 17, 1978.) On November 11, 1977, the bill was referred to the Subcommittees on International Organizations and International Economic Policy and Trade. The subcommittees held joint hearings on January 23, 24, and 25, 1978. On January 31 and February 7, 1978, the subcommittees considered amendments to H.R. 3350, and on February 7, by voice vote, ordered H.R. 3350 favorably reported to the full committee with amendments. On February 8, 1978, the full committee held a markup session on H.R. 3350 and ordered the bill favorably reported with amendments. In its review, the committee's primary concern was to legislate in such a way as to encourage the successful conclusion of a Law of the Sea Treaty. The amendments adopted by the International Relations Committee provided for the following: First, the committee amendments made the bill as consistent as possible with the United States position at the Law of the Sea Conference. They emphasized the transitional nature of the bill, strengthened the disclaimer of extraterritorial sovereignty, and established an International Revenue Sharing Fund to demonstrate that any proceeds from the exploitation by U.S. companies of minerals, which are the common heritage of mankind, must be shared with the international community. The amendments also insured that U.S. mining operations carried out before the conclusion of a treaty would conform to the maximum extent possible with U.S. commitments to conserve natural resources, protect the safety of life and property at sea, and protect the quality of the environment. Second, the committee amendments insured that the bill did not contain special interest provisions incompatible with U.S. foreign policy and with the multinational character of deep seabed mining operations. The amendments deleted provisions for publicly financed investment insurance for U.S. mining ventures, and replaced them with a policy statement to the effect that the United States should seek grandfather rights for such ventures in any Law of the Sea Agreement. Also they modified requirements in the bill that ships engaged in mining and processing operations be documented exclusively under the laws of the United States and that processing operations take place exclusively in the United States. Third, the committee amendments encouraged adherence by other states whose companies engage in deep seabed mining to the standards set forth in the bill. On June 8, 1978, a modified rule was granted by the Committee on Rules which made in order the consideration of the text of H.R. 12988, a substitute amendment to H.R. 3350. H.R. 12988 represented a compromise of the three versions of the bill as reported from the three committees. H.R. 12988 was considered on the House floor on July 24, 1978 and on July 26, 1978 passed the House by a vote of 312 yeas to 80 nays after having agreed to amendments to the text of H.R. 12988. No further action was taken on this measure during the 95th Congress. Legislative history Feb. 9, 1977-H.R. 3350 jointly referred to Committees on Merchant Aug. 9, 1977-Reported by House Committee on Merchant Marine and Nov. 7, 1977-Referred to Committee on International Relations for a Nov. 11, 1977-Referred jointly to Subcommittees on International Or- Jan. 23, 24, 25, 1978-Considered in open session by subcommittees. Feb. 7, 1978-Considered in open markup session by subcommittees, Feb. 16, 1978-Reported with amendments. House Report 95-588, Part June 7, 1978-Rule requested. June 8, 1978-Hearing on request for rule. Rule granted (Note: Modified rule granted which made in order the consideration to the text of H.R. 12988, a substitute amendment to H.R. 3350. H.R. 12988 represented a compromise of the three versions of the bill as reported from the three committees.) H. Res. 1240. House Report 95-1303. July 21, 1978-Rule debated in House, and adopted by voice vote. July 24, 1978-General debate in House. July 26, 1978-Passed House by a vote of 312 yeas to 80 nays, after having agreed to amendments to the text of H.R. 12988. 3. U.S. Contribution to International Tin Buffer Stock-H.R. 9486 (for Mr. Bingham, by request) On September 19, 1977, the State Department transmitted to the Speaker the executive branch recommendation with respect to a proposed contribution to the tin buffer stock. That recommendation, Executive Communication 2447, was referred to the Committee on International Relations and subsequently to the Subcommittee on International Economic Policy and Trade. The draft executive branch bill was introduced (by request) by the chairman of the subcommittee, as H.R. 9486 on October 6, 1977. The subcommittee held 3 days of hearings on the bill on February 15, 16, and 21, 1978. On March 1, the subcommittee considered H.R. 9486 38-411-79-7 and, by voice vote, ordered H.R. 9486 favorably reported to the full committee. On April 5, 1968, the full committee marked up H.R. 9486, and by voice vote ordered the bill favorably reported with amendments. The purpose of H.R. 9486 was to authorize a contribution of up to 5,000 long tons of surplus tin by the United States from its domestic tin stockpiles to the international tin buffer stock pursuant to the Fifth International Tin Agreement (ITA) ratified by the Senate. Such an action would contribute to the stabilization of world prices of tin to the benefit of both consuming and producing nations. A U.S. contribution of tin would increase the effectiveness of the international buffer stock in moderating the price of tin, a strategically important commodity, both by the contribution itself and by encouraging other nations to contribute. Of the amendments to H.R. 9486 adopted by the International Relations Committee two were technical in nature. A third added a new section to the bill which required the President to report to Congress on the impact of the transfer of tin metal by the United States as a participant in the Fifth ITA. On April 17, 1978, H.R. 9486 was referred to the Committees on Armed Services and Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs for a period ending not later than June 1, 1978, for concurrent consideration of such provisions of the bill as fall within the jurisdictions of those committees under rule X, clause 1(c) and clause 1(d) respectively of the Rules of the House. The Committee on Armed Services reported the bill with amendment on May 31, 1978, and the Committee on Banking, Finance, and Urban Affairs likewise on June 1, 1978. H.R. 9486 passed the House, as amended by the three committees, by a vote of 308 yeas to 75 nays under suspension of the rules on September 25, 1978. On September 28, 1978, the bill was jointly referred to the Senate Committees on Armed Services and Foreign Relations where it received no further action during the 95th Congress. However, authorization for reimbursement for the transfer of tin from the stock was incorporated as an amendment to the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for fiscal year 1979 which became Public Law 95-426. Legislative history Sept. 23, 1977-Executive Communication 2447 jointly referred to Com- Sept. 26, 1977-Referred to Subcommittee on International Economic Oct. 11, 1977-H.R. 9486 referred to Subcommittee on International Feb. 15, 16, 21, 1978-Considered in open session by subcommittee. April 5, 1978-Considered in open markup session by full committee, May 31, 1978-Reported by House Committee on Armed Services, with June 1, 1978-Reported by House Committee on Banking, Finance and July 26, 1978-Hearing on request for rule. Rule granted H. Res. Sept. 25, 1978-Passed House, as amended by the three committees, by a vote of 308 yeas to 75 nays under suspension of rules; agreed to amend title. Sept. 28, 1978-Referred jointly to Senate Committees on Armed Services and Foreign Relations. (Authorization for reimbursement for the transfer of tin from the stock was incorporated as an amendment to the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for FY 1979, H.R. 12598.). 4. International Emergency Wheat Reserve-H.R. 13835 (by Mr. Foley, for himself, and Representatives Ammerman, Baldus, Bedell, Breckinridge, Brown of California, Glickman, Harkin, Hightower, Jenrette, Jones of North Carolina, Nolan, Rose, Weaver, McHugh, and Zablocki) The Secretary of Agriculture, on behalf of the executive branch, transmitted to the Congress on March 15, 1978, a draft bill to authorize the establishment of an international emergency wheat reserve. The executive branch bill was introduced by request on April 12, 1978, as H.R. 12087 and was referred jointly to the Committees on International Relations and Agriculture. Joint hearings were held by the two committees on June 13 and 21, 1978. The Committee on International Relations met in markup session on August 9, 1978. The Committee on Agriculture completed its markup and introduced a clean bill, H.R. 13835 on August 11, 1978. H.R. 13835 was jointly referred to both committees and International Relations met to markup the bill on August 15, 1978. H.R. 13835 was ordered reported, with one amendment, by a vote of 27 to 3 on August 15, 1978 by the Committee on International Relations. The purpose of H.R. 13835, as amended, was to establish a Government held wheat reserve of up to 6 million metric tons to assist in meeting emergency food needs of developing countries during periods when wheat supplies are so short that enough wheat is not available for existing U.S. food aid programs abroad. H.R. 13835 was reported by the Committee on Agriculture on September 12, 1978 and by the Committee on International Relations on September 13, 1978. No further action was taken on the bill during the 95th Congress. Legislative history Mar. 20, 1978-Executive Communication 3612: Jointly referred to Committees on International Relations and Agriculture. Apr. 12, 1978-H.R. 12087: Jointly referred to Committees on International Relations and Agriculture. June 13, 21, 1978-Considered in open session jointly by full committee and Committee on Agriculture. Aug. 9, 1978-Substitute language, incorporating provisions of H.R. 6014, 9045, and 11439, considered in open markup session by full committee. Aug. 11, 1978-Considered in open markup session by Agriculture Committee, and clean bill ordered introduced. Aug. 11, 1978-H.R. 13835: Jointly referred to Committees on International Relations, and Agriculture. |